Recruiting: Top Spartan target Kyle Peko taking visits

November 16, 2012

By Matt Dorsey

Detroit Free Press Special Writer

One of the top prospects still on the recruiting board for Michigan State in the class of 2013 is defensive tackle Kyle Peko of Cerritos Community College in California.

The 6-foot-2, 295-pound Peko is the cousin of former Spartans and NFL players Situpe and Domata Peko. He is also good friends with current Michigan State offensive tackle Fou Fonoti.

The fact that Fonoti was injured and will be red-shirting this year could be a positive factor is the recruitment of Peko. Fonoti’s return for next year not only helps Michigan State on the field, but could aid with the recruitment of Peko as well.

Peko took his first official recruiting trip back in September when he visited Michigan State for the Eastern Michigan game. He will take his second official visit this weekend to Lincoln, Neb., to see the Cornhuskers play Minnesota. A trip to Utah is also planned and one to Washington is also in the works. Peko had the following to say about Michigan State when he talked to recruiting analyst Mike Matya of HuskerIllustrated.com.

“I liked everything,” Peko stated. “The coaches were awesome and the players are cool. I met, liked all of them. I just felt like I could fit in there. It was cool there. As of right now, I have the best relationship with their coaching staff.”

The Spartan coaches view Peko as a player who can come in and immediately battle for the starting sport that will be vacated by the graduation of Anthony Rashad-White. In addition, the Spartans will also lose defensive tackle Tyler Hoover to graduation. Hoover was expected to start this season as well, but he has battled multiple nagging injuries throughout this season and last. Peko talked with Matya about what he is looking for in a college.

“I’m looking to get an opportunity to come in and play right away, and all of those schools are talking about giving me the opportunity to come in and play right away,” Peko stated.

Peko is listed as a December graduate by Rivals.com. That means he will be able to join his team of choice in January for winter conditioning as well as participate in spring practice. Rivals.com currently ranks him as a three-star recruit. That ranking will be re-evaluated in the coming weeks. The fact that Peko has close to 20 offers on the table, and is still receiving more as signing day approaches, bodes well for him to get a rankings bump.

If Peko ends up selecting Michigan State University, not only will he addresses a position of immediate need, but he will all but ensure head coach Mark Dantonio of the best class he has signed player-for-player since arriving in East Lansing back November of 2006.

Matt Dorsey is a recruiting analyst for SpartanMag.com and Rivals.com.